Legendary rock band Styx returns to Cruces

Styx, one of the biggest progressive rock bands of the '70s, '80s and early '90s, brings its classic sound to Las Cruces.

The power ballad wielding six piece will play the New Mexico State University Pan American Center at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. The band is coming off a three-show stint in Texas on their way to Arizona followed by an appearance in Las Vegas. It turns out, Las Cruces is quite full of Styx fans; the venue has already sold close to 3,000 tickets with hopes of reaching 3,500 by concert day.

"I'm dating myself a bit with this but, I got 'Paradise Theater' on vinyl when I was a kid and just played it incessantly," said Las Cruces resident and long time Styx fan Scott Guthrie. "That led me to their other material which all got pretty good use in my house. Favorite song is too hard to pick, there's so many."

Luckily, Guthrie won't have to as the band brings a jam-packed set list to perform with songs like "Come Sail Away," "Too Much Time on My Hands" and "Mr. Roboto".

"Historically, they play for two-plus hours, so it'll be an evening full of great hits," said Scott Breckner, NMSU Director of Special Events. "They really enjoy performing and hopefully it brings back some great memories of the last few times they played Las Cruces."

Bob Nosbisch, Doña Ana Community College and El Paso Community College instructor, said he has been a fan ever since he first heard the song "Lady."

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"Back then, John Curulewski was with the band and Tommy Shaw was not," Nosbisch recalls. "However, when they added Shaw and released such great albums as 'The Grand Illusion,' 'Pieces of Eight' and 'Cornerstone.' I really became a fan of the band then."

Nosbisch said he saw the band in 1980 while stationed in Germany and actually got to interview Tommy Shaw. Seeing them in Las Cruces later, when they toured with REO Speedwagon, was also a treat.

"They do not disappoint," he said.

The contest portion of the event featuring up-and-coming music acts vying for a chance to open the show, is fully underway. Finalists, judged on submitted demos, are Decade of the Dead Arcade, BOFUS, Amber St. Yves and Flat Blak. They will perform live for judges and audience members at 8 p.m. Friday, at Hurricane Alley, 1490 Missouri Ave. Guests are welcome to attend and submit their votes as well.

There will be a $3 cover at the door and regular drink specials for five plus hours of music from the top three entrants.

"The audience will be a key component in the selection of the band," said judge Bobby Torres. "There have been some incredible acts, really great submissions, and it's going to be really tough to choose."

More than 20 bands entered the competition including Las Cruces' own BOFUS, a finalists.

"I heard about the contest on Facebook when it was announced," said Guthrie, BOFUS lead guitarist. "[We] played a spontaneous show over the holiday and decided to enter the contest then."

Guthrie said the band tries to achieve some of the same classic attributes in its own songwriting that Styx employs in songs like "Renegade" and "Snowblind." "Great melodies, great guitar riffs, vocals are always tops and they have hooks for days!"

The contest wasn't just for local bands though. According to Chris Faivre, director of marketing and communications for the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau, they received submissions from bands all across the country including Utah and Washington.

Still, the competition was sponsored by NMSU Special Events in partnership with the Las Cruces CVB providing for some great exposure.

"It originally started with Barbara Hubbard," Faivre said. "Styx's manger got in touch with her. And she decided to have a contest that would be an opportunity to showcase the local music scene."

The rest, as they say, is history.

The NMSU Pan American Center will host the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and go up from there. For more information on tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.